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l WNI'IED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. CLARK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DOUCHE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,382, dated May 23, 1899.

Application filed November 19, 1898. Serial No, 696,931. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that LFRANK H. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, (Brooklyn,) in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Douche, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an instrument for the more efficient cleansing and irrigating of the uterine cavity and the treatment of abnormal conditions which may be present than instruments for a like purpose heretofore used; and I hereby declare that the following specification, including the drawings annexed hereto, is a clear and exact description of the same, so that others skilled in the art of the manufacture of surgical instruments will be able to manufacture them if they so desire.

The principal features of this improvement in douches are, first, a quick expansion and contraction of the distending wire or wires by the turn of a screw; second, its easy insertion,wl1ile contracted or compressed, without pain or inconvenience to the patient; third, its aseptic feature, by reason of its being so constructed that all of its parts can be easily detached and cleansed after use.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows the instrument in its normal or contracted position ready for insertion. Fig. 2 gives a view of the wires distended, which is conveniently done by operating the screw-nut at C. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the device, taken at the position indicated at the line 3 3 in Fig. 2. Fig. t gives a view of a portion of the under side of the instrument at its end. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 6 is a modified form of clasp.

The general construction of the instrument will now be explained.

A tube, preferably of brass, as shown at A A, Fig. 1, which constitutes the body of the instrument, is bent in the required shape, as indicated in the drawings, with a hole through its interiorof one-eighth of an inch in diame ter,which size, however, may be varied, larger or smaller, if found desirable in practice. Upon this tube is placed a thread F, in which the screw-nut O engages. Attached to this nut by a grooved collar (shown at G) is a,

sleeve made also of brass tubing with the interior of such size as to allow it to move freely in a lengthwise direction and upon the outside of the tube A. This sleeve is made in two parts or equal halves, separated longitudinally, as shown at the lines I) Z), and held in place by hinges on the collars at one side (the said collars being placed, as shown, at each end of the sleeve B) and by pins or their equivalent entering holes at the other side. The whole is firmly secured in position by one or more clasps, as at H, at the middle or ends of the sleeve. The hinges and pins are shown in Fig. 3the hinges at J and the pins at K. Fig. 6 shows a modified form of clasp, which consists of a binder N, so made as to slide over the sleeve B from the end, and thus securely hold all the parts when the instrument is ready for use. When this binder is used, it is of course necessary to so modify the form of the collar at one end of the sliding sleeve B as to permit the binder to slide over it. In the end of the sleeve opposite the thumb-screw are firmly secured the wires D D D, made of steel or of other suitable material. Three of these are shown, as at Fig. 4; but I do not wish to confine myself to this precise number, as more or less may be found desirable in further practice. By the use of three wires the parts are dilated in a form approaching a half-circle, and an ample outletv is thus afforded. I thus avoid cutting or otherwise injuring the tissues. At the extremity of the instrument the other ends of these wires are preferably loosely placed in holes made for the purpose, as at E, Fig. 4. The object of having them loose is so that when the device is taken apart for the purpose of cleansing they can be easily removed, an upward bend at the ends holding them firmly in place when the instrument is in use. I do not, however, wish to confine myself to having them loose if in practice it may be shown to be wiser to have them fixed.

Near the end of the douche is arranged a series of holes or slots for the outlet of the liquid, which may be a medicinal preparation or clear water, as the case may require. At the other extreme end of the douche is attached 100 a rubber tube, a portion being shown at L, which is connected to a reservoir containing the said liquid.

At M, Figs. 1, 2, and 5, is shown a plate secured to the douche for the better convenience of holding in the hand while in use.

In puerperal fever and other diseases of women and in the operation of curettage it is necessary to effect a perfect and complete flooding and cleansing of the uterine cavity, situated deeply in the pelvis and opening externally only through a small curved canal. When the patient is placed in a prone posi tion, this curved canal is partially straightened, and I find this position preferable for the insertion of the instrument.

To insert the device into the uterine canal, the wires are collapsed by means of the screwnut O. The instrument is then inserted, and by means of the screw-nut O the Wires are distended sufficiently to insure an effectual drainage of the canal, and the fluid is then allowed to flow from the reservoir through the tubes L and A into the uterine cavity.

The wires are then collapsed by reversing the turning of the screw-nut 0, when the instrument will slip easily from its place.

The device can be readily taken apart for disinfection by opening the sliding sleeve B and drawing out the wires D D D. which is attached to the tube A preferably by a screw-thread, is then unscrewed and the screw-nut O is slipped ofi the end of the tube.

What I desire to and do claim in this invention is- 1. The combination in a douche of the curved tube A, the distending-wires-D on one side thereof the detachable sleeve B and screwnut O, substantially as shown and'described.

2. In a douche detachably-connected distending-wires extending along the curved tube A, the sliding sleeve 13, screw-nut O, and the screw-thread F, substantially as shown and described.

FRANK H. CLARK.

Witnesses:

ANDREW FOULDS, Jr., A. A. KNUDsoN.

The tip, 

